IT'S easy to understand why Gregory Rabassa wanted to translate Jose Sarney's "Master of the Sea." Rabassa's recent memoir, "If This Be Treason," suggests how this premier translator identifies the works he wants to translate: They all present a variety of subjects in an uncommon way. Which is certainly true of this novel by Sarney, a former president of Brazil (1985-1990), for no detail is surrendered to cliche.

In a major victory for President Jose Sarney, Brazil's Constituent Assembly voted 344-212 to retain the country's system of a strong executive presidency. Sarney, a conservative leader, led the fight against advocates of a parliamentary system, which would have effectively placed power in the hands of a prime minister. The vote was part of the Constituent Assembly's work on a new constitution to seal Brazil's return to democracy.

Of the dozens of characters Jose Sarney has invented as a novelist, perhaps none has so colorful a past, or so interesting a present, as the person he is now busily reinventing: himself. More than just an author of moderate renown, Sarney is a politician -- and a former president of Brazil at that.

President Jose Sarney's ruling center-right party, saddled with voter discontent stemming from the country's 700% inflation, was taking a beating late Wednesday from both the right and left in municipal election returns. In the mayor's race in Sao Paulo, Luiza Erundina, 53, a social worker and self-proclaimed Marxist, narrowly defeated millionaire businessman Paulo Maluf. Erundina, representing the Workers' Party, becomes the first woman mayor of South America's largest city.

Brazilian President Jose Sarney, lacking solid support from his majority party, is attempting to form a new political alliance more loyal to his administration. Sarney is asking politicians to sign a document that includes a pledge "to support the president in the actions that he deems appropriate in the legislative, governmental and political area."

Last week's transition from military to civilian rule in Brazil was marred by the sudden illness of President-elect Tancredo Neves, but the manner in which the emergency was handled bodes well for the future of that nation's new democracy. Neves is recovering from emergency surgery for an intestinal inflammation, and is expected to take the presidential oath of office when he leaves the hospital in two to three weeks.

Brazil's biggest political party, once firmly united against military rule, is breaking up in stormy controversy over its relationship with President Jose Sarney and his unpopular administration. The troubles in the Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement, or PMDB, reflect a panorama of political confusion in Brazil as the largest country in Latin America moves toward full democracy.

International pressure for the preservation of Amazon rain forests has triggered a defiant barrage of nationalist reaction in Brazil. President Jose Sarney has declared repeatedly in recent weeks that Brazil will accept no Amazon conservation proposals that infringe on Brazil's sovereignty. Some foreign proposals have called for international supervision of Amazon conservation programs as a condition for financial aid or foreign debt relief.

Finance Minister Luiz Carlos Bresser Pereira resigned Friday in a dispute with President Jose Sarney over proposed tax and austerity measures aimed at reducing Brazil's huge government deficit. Bresser, who took the job in April, was the third finance minister to quit since Sarney took office in March, 1985. Like Bresser, the previous ministers resigned under the pressure of double-digit monthly inflation and the largest foreign debt--now $113 billion--owed by a developing country.

International pressure for the preservation of Amazon rain forests has triggered a defiant barrage of nationalist reaction in Brazil. President Jose Sarney has declared repeatedly in recent weeks that Brazil will accept no Amazon conservation proposals that infringe on Brazil's sovereignty. Some foreign proposals have called for international supervision of Amazon conservation programs as a condition for financial aid or foreign debt relief.

President Jose Sarney's ruling center-right party, saddled with voter discontent stemming from the country's 700% inflation, was taking a beating late Wednesday from both the right and left in municipal election returns. In the mayor's race in Sao Paulo, Luiza Erundina, 53, a social worker and self-proclaimed Marxist, narrowly defeated millionaire businessman Paulo Maluf. Erundina, representing the Workers' Party, becomes the first woman mayor of South America's largest city.

Brazil's biggest political party, once firmly united against military rule, is breaking up in stormy controversy over its relationship with President Jose Sarney and his unpopular administration. The troubles in the Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement, or PMDB, reflect a panorama of political confusion in Brazil as the largest country in Latin America moves toward full democracy.

Brazil's Congress adopted a constitutional provision Thursday that will keep President Jose Sarney in office until March, 1990, a year longer than his opponents had hoped. The vote gives Sarney, a civilian who took office in 1985 at the end of 21 years of military government, a total of five years as "transitional" president.

A tempestuous corruption scandal is lashing Brazil's three-year-old civilian government, and President Jose Sarney is feeling the sting. For more than two months, a special Senate commission has been investigating allegations of graft and illicit patronage in Sarney's administration. The scandal has become the hottest story in Latin America's biggest country, sparking banner headlines in newspapers, cover stories in magazines and extensive coverage on television.

Brazil's Congress adopted a constitutional provision Thursday that will keep President Jose Sarney in office until March, 1990, a year longer than his opponents had hoped. The vote gives Sarney, a civilian who took office in 1985 at the end of 21 years of military government, a total of five years as "transitional" president.

A tempestuous corruption scandal is lashing Brazil's three-year-old civilian government, and President Jose Sarney is feeling the sting. For more than two months, a special Senate commission has been investigating allegations of graft and illicit patronage in Sarney's administration. The scandal has become the hottest story in Latin America's biggest country, sparking banner headlines in newspapers, cover stories in magazines and extensive coverage on television.

In a major victory for President Jose Sarney, Brazil's Constituent Assembly voted 344-212 to retain the country's system of a strong executive presidency. Sarney, a conservative leader, led the fight against advocates of a parliamentary system, which would have effectively placed power in the hands of a prime minister. The vote was part of the Constituent Assembly's work on a new constitution to seal Brazil's return to democracy.

A camera caught what looked like a tear sliding down President Jose Sarney's cheek the other day, and the published photo quickly became a symbol of troubled times in Brazil. Latin America's biggest country is frustrated and demoralized by a withering combination of economic decay and political disarray.